Lind group closing two Harley Davidson dealerships
Discussion
A former Suzuki dealer, though in more recent years just Piaggio group scooters and some secondhand bikes, closed down several months ago. They obviously paid their web hosting up-front though as that is still online and showing their old address (very clearly closed, and up for sale with planning already granted for a couple of houses).
Industry isn’t doing too well at the moment, I think, had a few of these sorts of posts recently.
Industry isn’t doing too well at the moment, I think, had a few of these sorts of posts recently.
Biker9090 said:
The Suzuki dealers only opened in the last year or so and Bulldogs been around for years.
I wasn’t clear, sorry. Not a Lind Suzuki dealer, this was one near me in Kent. Sturdeys, they’d been there decades. TBH maybe the owners just got old and wanted retirement, and the plot was worth more than the business as a going concern.I live near to the Reading Harley dealership, it's always been dead whenever I have gone in there, save the odd biker night.
One thing I find highly irritating about their website is that they don't show RRP on any of the (too large, IMHO) model range:
https://www.lind.co.uk/harley-davidson/new-bikes
It doesn't attract me in. If they can't be arsed to show pricing I'm not going to consider whether I can afford one.
One thing I find highly irritating about their website is that they don't show RRP on any of the (too large, IMHO) model range:
https://www.lind.co.uk/harley-davidson/new-bikes
It doesn't attract me in. If they can't be arsed to show pricing I'm not going to consider whether I can afford one.
vonhosen said:
BMW Bahnstormer Maidenhead are closing too.
I saw that email and they frame it as an end of lease event, coupled with BMW requiring investment, which I assumed means a more expensive building and the current location probably wouldn't accommodate that. In truth, I would expect the issue to be that BMW want a shiny new dealership but there isn't enough money coming in to pay for it. Apparently Bahnstormer are closing pretty much immediately - all done by the end of next week. One of the company directors resigned a couple of weeks ago - wonder if that's related. Email says the lease is up and BMW wants significant investment in facilities - that's fair enough, but those are longer term things - not, we're closing next week things.
I bought a BMW in July, I ended up buying new but initially was looking used - some / most of the used bikes I looked at in May / June are still available - I think the poor summer / economic uncertainty and an aging biker demographic has hit the industry pretty hard.
I bought a BMW in July, I ended up buying new but initially was looking used - some / most of the used bikes I looked at in May / June are still available - I think the poor summer / economic uncertainty and an aging biker demographic has hit the industry pretty hard.
It's a pity they're closing Maidenhead, I've used the TV branch since it opened in Bracknell. Just means I'll look at North Oxford as an alternative for service/purchases now as it's probably slightly closer than Alton.
I'm not totally convinced about their business strategy. E.g. opening a high end bicycle shop just as the cycle industry tanked completely...
I'm not totally convinced about their business strategy. E.g. opening a high end bicycle shop just as the cycle industry tanked completely...
BunkMoreland said:
Meanwhile "superbike factory" planning expansion
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
I don't understand it eitherhttps://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
I sell bikes - none are prepped better than mine - my ads have all the detail and loads of well lit pictures, taken from all angles, yet my phone rarely rings
Maybe I should do crap pictures and terrible descriptions - that seems to be what works
KTMsm said:
BunkMoreland said:
Meanwhile "superbike factory" planning expansion
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
I don't understand it eitherhttps://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
I sell bikes - none are prepped better than mine - my ads have all the detail and loads of well lit pictures, taken from all angles, yet my phone rarely rings
Maybe I should do crap pictures and terrible descriptions - that seems to be what works
te bikes on ste APR, in one manageable monthly sum. The monthly sum I'd imagine is key. BunkMoreland said:
Meanwhile "superbike factory" planning expansion
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history and very low miles which gets the twitching going. Plus the bikes are almost always miles away from wherever you are.
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
What gets me is their adverts that have said "we charge £300 less than the market value" then bung on a £200 admin fee that's not up for negotiation, nor included in the Auto Trader price. I'm lead to believe their aftersales is shocking, too. https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2024/august/su...
I'm amazed they do so well. Their blanket ads on BikeTrader have bugger all details. They aren't significantly cheaper. And a lot of their bikes seem to have zero history and very low miles which gets the twitching going. Plus the bikes are almost always miles away from wherever you are.
And if we look at Cazoo et al. Its not like Car supermarkets are doing well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwAgbwRh-KU
I found this an interesting take on the state of the UK bike market.
Everyone has an opinion of what needs to happen. Personally I think smaller, more affordable bikes are the future.
Just look at Triumphs 400 range, they hit a home run with that model.
I found this an interesting take on the state of the UK bike market.
Everyone has an opinion of what needs to happen. Personally I think smaller, more affordable bikes are the future.
Just look at Triumphs 400 range, they hit a home run with that model.
I don't know that smaller bikes are the future, I have no interest in a 400 on the road
However, I do think that bikes generally have got too fast and too complex and the majority of those don't interest me
I ride green lanes with some wealthy guys and we all ride KTM 990 Adventures
Because nothing newer does it better and they have lots of bits that are either expensive to fix or more importantly can ruin your day as they can't be fixed at the side of the trail
I think some of the blame is placed on the EU by demanding tighter emissions ABS etc
Equally, the manufacturers are to blame by making such huge ranges Which they then won't supply parts for the next 20 years
I was recently was fixing a friend's quad bikes, they were Hondas, there was 20 years between them yet they all used the same air filter, oil filter, etc.
That's just good common sense
However, I do think that bikes generally have got too fast and too complex and the majority of those don't interest me
I ride green lanes with some wealthy guys and we all ride KTM 990 Adventures
Because nothing newer does it better and they have lots of bits that are either expensive to fix or more importantly can ruin your day as they can't be fixed at the side of the trail
I think some of the blame is placed on the EU by demanding tighter emissions ABS etc
Equally, the manufacturers are to blame by making such huge ranges Which they then won't supply parts for the next 20 years
I was recently was fixing a friend's quad bikes, they were Hondas, there was 20 years between them yet they all used the same air filter, oil filter, etc.
That's just good common sense
KTMsm said:
I don't know that smaller bikes are the future, I have no interest in a 400 on the road.
I think they're bikes made for other, larger markets that work quite well here in an urban setting or for smaller and less confident riders. I've had use of 3-4 loaner Duke 790s. They had me within two miles of the dealership. Sunny day, downhill on lightly trafficked main road, nice noise, easy and accessible torque. The size suits me really well. One reason for not buying one if that I'd hardly ever use the performance, I'd be forever trying to rein myself in due to the ease of riding it and the performance. My sensible head was saying "What's the point of having it when you know you can't use it on the road?"
It's a bit Tool Vs Toy? I think the majority of riding being done by 400s in urban settings could be done by a PCX125 or a 300cc super scooter, but they're not motorcycles and they don't have the image.
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 12th September 11:20
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